“That’s a lot of pressure,” Rose said with a smile after the Bulls wrapped up practice Monday afternoon. “A lot of pressure, I don’t know why he did it. We’re still trying to become a 48-minute team and that’s the only thing we’re worried about right now. That, and Washington [on Tuesday], and that’s the only thing that we can do [and] worry about. And that’s the only thing we’re looking forward to right now.”

You’d almost think the ultra competitive Jordan was trying to get in the heads of the guys following in his footsteps in Chicago. Lobbing some grenades at them disguised as bouquets. Try to intimidate them a little.

Nah, Jordan would never do that. He’s moved beyond all that. Right?

These Bulls are very good and poised to get better, they may well get a title or titles. But will one group ever really dominate a decade like Jordan’s Bulls did? (I don’t look at the Lakers of the last 10 years the same way.)

It couldn’t be that a man nearing 50 might possibly have a small soft spot in his heart for a fan base and thought he should say something nice while making an appearance commemorating a 20th anniversary.

No way could nostalgia wash over him.

Helin – The thing that drives me nuts about you is I come across as hating you because you hate on the Bulls…but in reality I just think you’re a mediocre writer doing something plenty of others would happily do…and do better…without letting their childish, deep-rooted hatred of a professional team affect their ability to operate as a true journalist.